IV.I.IV – Off to the Races

IV.I.IV OFF TO THE RACES I remember dreading having to go on a date. All the small talk, the playing hard to get, the thrill of the chase. Then there’s the waiting for the right moment to ask them out and the having to decide where to go.  Then, of course, comes the much-awaited, much-dreaded day – along with the […]

IV.I.III – Pride

IV.I.III PRIDE   With these new insights, I decided to give dating another try. The ‘not looking for anything serious but open to anything’ kinda dating. Up until that point my love life had been very simple; the boring, single phase, the six-month relationship with Pedro, and the only-looking-for-fun, single phase.  Whilst not very experienced in the domains of love, […]

IV.I.II – Vulnerable

IV.I.II VULNERABLE To be happy, to be really happy, means being able to be hopeful. And hope? Not a big friend of mine. I think Gus was in the right here. The world’s not really a wish-granting factory after all. Earlier on in my life I ditched hope and dreams for goals and actions. And I was a much better person […]

I.II.V.II – Placencia?: Day Two

PLACENCIA? I.II.V.II – DAY TWO 25/09/22 The place I had come to call my ‘safe haven’ quickly stopped being that as my streak of bad luck went on.  At around 1AM, I could hear shouting and screaming coming from the cabaña to my left. Being the observant person that I am (most would describe it as nosy), I took it upon myself […]

IV.I.I- Balance

IV.I.I BALANCE Just like that, a new phase of my life had started. I stopped smoking and started working out. My confidence skyrocketed and I also started feeling very chipper and chirpy, bright and shiny. I guess what I’m trying to say is that with great physical health comes… great mental health. Thank you. Thank you very much. I know, I […]

I.II.V.I – Placencia?: Day One

PLACENCIA? I.II.V.I – DAY ONE 24/09/22 I woke up bright and early to catch the bus from Hopkins to the intersection outside the town, where I’d get on another one that would lead me to my next destination; Placencia. What followed, instead, is what I like to refer to as a series of unfortunate events. Always the punctual type, I […]

III.III.IV – Sky High

III.III.IV SKY HIGH I stopped smoking the day after I had my emotional break-down/through. We were going for a weekend trip to Croatia so that would be the perfect distraction. And lo and behold; an entire weekend flew by and I barely noticed I hadn’t smoked.  Of course, I did notice the withdrawal symptoms. My tongue started sprouting ulcers like […]

III.III.III – Rock Bottom

III.III.III ROCK BOTTOM I know I won’t particularly enjoy writing this. Mostly because I have to mention a lot of my failures in excruciating detail. Also because it’s probably gonna sound like I’m giving a lecture or something.  I want to reiterate that I am no psychiatrist nor a motivational speaker; I’m writing solely from personal experience. That, and the […]

III.III.II – Hedonia

III.III.II HEDONIA On the same exchange program were about twenty other students from all over the world. I wasn’t too keen on making new friends at the beginning. My time in Hungary was supposed to be my me time.  Little did I assume that by that very first night, they’d already be family.  I still remember us sitting down on […]

III.III.I – An Ancient City

III.III.I AN ANCIENT CITY Just like that, Nepal was yet another memory. Back in Malta, I didn’t really have much time to stagnate. I was ready to leave the minute I set foot on the fish-shaped prison. And leave I did; this time to Hungary; specifically, the city of Pécs for a medical exchange program. Oh Pécs, my Pécs… You […]